Sam Montgomery: ‘Effort was not needed’ sometimes against weaker teams

Fans and media have been asking about comments made by outside linebacker Sam Montgomery, a Texans third-round draft choice, at the Indianapolis scouting combine.

In his question-and-answer session with the media at the combine, Montgomery discussed a lot of subjects, including reports that he didn’t play hard all the time at LSU. He’s open and honest in his responses.

Montgomery talked about how his nickname, “Sonic,” is dedicated to his late brother. He also discussed bets he made with teammate Barkevious Mingo (the Browns’ No. 1 pick) about who’d have the most sacks and who’d get drafted first.

It’s interesting to read scouting reports on Montgomery (6-3, 262) that discussed how hard he played.

The Texans are going to use Montgomery on the strong side and let him compete with starter Brooks Reed. If Montgomery is good enough to start – and don’t count on it right away because it’s a difficult position to master for rookies – Reed could move inside.

Here’s Montgomery’s Q and A with the media at the combine:

Q: How much bigger did you get between your sophomore and junior year?

A: “I think I gained a lot of pounds, 30 to 40 pounds. I tried to put it on at LSU, undisciplined-wise, but now that I had time to train I put on muscle mass, so I have a nice figure. I am currently 263, and at LSU I was 262, but it was all flab. I definitely learned about body control.”

Q: Has it affected your game?

A: “My strength and my measurable quickness have increased as well. I think my footwork has gotten better. When you put on the right weight, there are so much more things you can be mobile with to make you a diverse player.”

Q: What is a team going to get if they get you?

A: “They will get a player who will go to the end of the ways with them, who will battle to the end, no matter what happens. They will get a team player at linebacker or defensive end, a diverse player on the field or off the field being a good example for the program.”

Q: Why did you leave early?

A: “I think it was my time due to family conditions, and I think I did everything I could at LSU. Two-time All-American, led the team, kept up with my academics as much as I can. It was a decision me and my family had to make. The standard of living for them isn’t looking too well, so I wanted to step up and be a man and take care of them. I tried to lead the young guys so they could carry the torch.”

Q: Hard to leave?

A: “It was difficult leaving my family, but it was something I had to do, especially with all the relationships I had with the media as well as the fans, the support system, the coaches. But it was something I needed to do. That’s part of making choices and being a man.”

Q: Get any advice from LSU guys in the NFL?

A: “You know Drake Nevis (Colts offensive tackle who played at LSU) has been my mentor since I met him. He’s taught me how to play football and set a standard for me on and off the field. Joe Barksdale (Rams offensive tackle who played at LSU), we have so many players in the league right now that set a good example of setting themselves apart in the community as well as being dominant on the field.”

Q: How about LSU having 13 guys at the combine? Les Miles is doing a great job, right?

A: “Most of the SEC schools do an amazing job of taking boys and turning them into men from the football aspect. Les Miles has done an extremely good job turning boys into men, and he teaches you how to play grown-man football. Being in the SEC you have to grow up fast.”

Q: What sets you apart from the other pass rushers?

A: “The thing that sets you apart is my stamina and endurance. Someone who isn’t going to quit or give up. My intensity and game play is something that increases late in the game, which proves I’m a four-quarter player and very clutch.”

Q: Have you played LB as well as DE?

A: “Yes, hand down and hand off the ground.”

Q: You have a preference?

A: “No, it doesn’t matter. Whatever a team needs.”

Q: What is the key to your stamina?

A: “It all goes to chemistry of the team. The closer I am with the players, the more we get along, they can give me hard-nosed coaching during the week, it all comes together on Sundays, that’s what matters. That’s what happened at LSU. It was hard-nosed coaching during the week, and it all came together. The family thing makes a difference. Instead of going harder for a teammate, go harder for a brother. Instead of going hard for a coach, go hard for a father figure or an uncle. Chemistry makes you go harder.”

Q: A player in the NFL you model yourself after?

A: “I looked at a lot of players’ games, and I feel like my game follows the Ravens’ defensive end (outside linebacker Terrell Suggs), then again, it’s disrespectful of the veterans to compare my game to them because I haven’t walked in their shoes yet. I can’t come in saying I’m going to be the next 99. You have to earn your stripes. For right now, I model myself as rookie Sam Montgomery.”

Q: Reports had coaches at LSU not happy with your effort/work all the time, so what’s up with that?

A: “You know, some weeks when we didn’t have to play the harder teams, there were some times when effort was not needed. But when we had the big boys coming in, the Bamas or the South Carolinas, I grabbed close to those guys and went all out. Of course, this is a new league, the NFL and there are no small teams, small divisions. It’s all Alabamas and LSUs every week. It’s definitely something I have to get adjusted to, but I’m sure with the right coaching I will be fine.”

Q: But NFL teams might be worried?

A: “When you’re young, you do things as a boy, but when you grow, you do things as a man. From a maturing standpoint, and from everything going into this league that I have learned so far, I was a boy in college, and now that I am going into the league, I’ve become a man.”

Q: How do you prove that to NFL teams?

A: “You get your chance, and when your chance comes, you dominate. You can only prove through actions, not words.”

Q: With weight gain, did you lose anything physically?

A: “If anything I feel my footwork has been 10 times better by doing drills, going in and out of the ropes. I feel so much more relaxed about being a linebacker. I used to just be a defensive end.”

Q: You have bets with (OLB Barkevious) Mingo at LSU?

A: “Of course, you know we had three bets going on. One was who had the higher (number of) sacks for a thousand dollars. I won that. I can’t remember the $500 bet, oh yeah, it was who had the most sacks in the last game. I won that. Now we’re fighting to compete to who is highest (selected) in the draft. That amount of money is pretty big, so I have to come up with this one.”

Q: How much?

A: “$5,000.”

Q: On those bets, you sure you’re going to have an NFL job to pay for it?

A: “Here’s the thing: Hard work, and betting like that, pushes greatness. That’s actually motivating me and Mingo. It’s not about the money. It’s about pushing us, at the combine and the drills in between. That’s what is pushing us to be the best. It’s always been competitive for me and Mingo, and it makes us better in the end. He’s a fast defensive end. I’m more physical. We have to switch over in those realms, so putting big stakes on it makes us more dominant players in the end.”

Q: Can you play linebacker?

A: “Yes, and actually when I get done with the combine, I am going to start working on dropbacks, DB drills as well as linebacker drills. As my footwork has increased my confidence has (too), and I think it’s time to take my game to the next level. Hand on the ground, pass rush move, and being an agile linebacker.”

Q: Why the nickname Sonic (from the video game)?

A: “If you look at the characteristics of Sonic, those are the characteristics I stand for. Sonic is a game my brother and I used to play a lot. My brother passed away, and I carry the name of strength and honor in his name. His memory. As well as a name of strength and integrity of helping out people. That’s why Sonic.”